Wayne Reynolds Merrick

Wayne R. Merrick, 86, of 885 Dogwood Dr., Meadville, died Wednesday, October 01, 2003 at Meadville Medical Center.

He was born June 16, 1917 in Fort Covington, Northern, NY, a son of the late Irvin and Charlotte Smart Merrick.  He married Sally Small June 28, 1947.

Wayne received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY and a PhD from the Maxwell Graduate School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University.  He worked as a high school teacher in New York State from 1939 to 1942 and 1946 to 1948.  He taught at Allegheny College from 1952 to 1982.  Dr. Merrick retired from the college after nearly 30 years as Professor and chairman of the department of Political Science and chairman of the International Studies Committee.

Dr. Merrick enlisted, as private, in the U.S. Army, July 28, 1942; Sergeant, October 1942; commissioned 2nd Lieutenant April 1943 and was Captain in a Ninth Army Air Force Unit that was part of the 19th tactical air command assigned to General Patton’s 3rd Army, European Theatre of Operations (Normandy, Northern France, Battle of the Bulge, Central Europe, and Occupation Forces in Germany).  Dr. Merrick retired as Colonel, U.S. Air Force (active reserve) in 1973.  For many years, Col. Merrick held a Mobilization Assignment in the Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon, in the field of political-military intelligence and policy analysis and had various military assignments in Washington and NATO.

Dr. Merrick was at one time a member of the board of directors of the Crawford County Cancer Society, Red Cross, Chamber of Commerce and the Crawford County Historical Society where he played a major role in saving the Baldwin Reynolds House, and was on the Board of Corporators of the Meadville Medical Center and Hamot Medical Center, Erie.  He was a member of the Meadville Kiwanis Club, County Club, Iroquois Club, Round Table, Literary Union, Meadville Beautification Committee, the Retired Officer’s Association, the Reserve Officers Association, and was also a 60-year member of the Free and Accepted Mason’s Lodge in Northern New York State and a member of the New Castle Consistory, 32nd degree Mason.

He was a member of Stone United Methodist Church.

Dr. Merrick was a descendent of over one hundred of the earliest pilgrim and puritan settler families who arrived in Massachusetts before 1640.  He was a great-great-grandson of Captain Amos Emerson, an officer in the 1st New Hampshire Continental Regiment during the American Revolution.  Captain Emerson was one of the original members of the society of the Cincinnati, which was created by George Washington at the close of the American Revolution.  As a direct descendent, Dr. Merrick was a hereditary member of this organization.

Survivors, in addition to his wife of 56 years, include, 2 sons, Tracy Merrick and his wife Karen of Wexford and Jeffrey Merrick and his partner Steve Atkinson of Mequon, WI; 3 daughters, Susan Merrick and her partner Maureen McGlone of Anchorage, Alaska; Sarah Merrick and her partner Sheila Taugher of Syracuse, NY; and Tamsen Goldbach and her husband Ralph of Finksburg, MD; 2 grandsons, Ryan and Nathan Merrick; 2 granddaughters, Macy and Abigail Goldbach; 2 nephews; and 3 nieces.  He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Raymond, Hollis, and Marion Merrick; a niece; 6 grand-nephews; a grand-niece; and a great-grand-niece.

Calling hours are today (Thursday) from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.

A funeral service will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main St., Meadville with Rev. Dr. James A. Durlesser officiating and assisted by Revs. Jack Spencer and James Hammerlee, retired United Methodist clergymen.

Burial will be in Greendale Cemetery with full military honors provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2006.

The family suggests memorials may be made to Allegheny College for the Wayne Reynolds Merrick Scholarship Study Abroad Fellowship or the Wayne and Sally Merrick Archival Center, 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.